An Alternative Natural History of Sussex.
This blog shows the highlights of my day to day findings as a naturalist and ecologist living and working in Sussex. Delivered with a pinch of nihilism, a dash of sarcasm and absolutely no tweeness, here is my attempt to show natural history as it really is: Brutal, beautiful, uncompromising and fascinating...and occasionally ridiculous.

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About Me

I have been studying natural history for some twenty-eight years, fifteen in a professional capacity. I currently work in Sussex as the Senior Ecologist for Sussex Wildlife Trust where I advise on the management of reserves based upon the results of the ecological surveys I carry out. Views here are my own however. I run a number of identification courses and I also do a small amount of freelance ecological consultancy. My main areas of interest are birds, plants and invertebrates and a lot of my spare time is spent in the field. I don't look like a birdwatcher.

I have spent an excellent day with the BBC's Natural History Unit filming Adonis Blues at the Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve Malling Down. It did not take very long to find the butterflies today, there were at least 30 there. The female photographed may actually be on the TV in a few weeks. The documentary is a 4 minute feature on some funding the Trust had from the BBC to manage chalk-grassland for Adonis Blues and other species. It will appear on The One Show on the 1st June. We also saw Dingy Skipper, Small Heath, Large White and Brimstone as well as Crambus lathoniellus, Pyrausta nigrata and Blue Shield Bug. The strangest part of the day was catching a butterfly in a net with my left hand as I fell down a 30 degree slope, sliding backwards over a patch of Dwarf Thistles, the whole time being on the phone and the caller never even new! Tomorrow Mike Dilger is coming down and we are going to be in front of the camera. I have always wanted to do natural history presenting so this is a great opportunity!

3 Response to "Filming Adonis Blues with the BBC at Malling Down"

It's great to hear that funding from all over is going towards the management of chalk-grasslands. Blue butterflies are so intriguing with their complex ecology, The One Show is a good place to spark peoples interest.

Thanks! You can see some of the work Sussex Wildlife Trust has done in the photo above. By removing the secondary woodland that has grown up in recent years, more light can now get on to the southern slopes meaning more Adonis Blues!

Great work on Malling Down! Good to hear you are nipping that encroaching scrub in the bud. Raising awareness for lowland limestone grassland is in full swing up here in Lincs. We have over 200 volunteers surveying as much as possible of some 4000km of road verge over 2 years as part of Life on the Verge (www.lifeontheverge.org.uk). We are trying to put a Living Landscape of climate corridors in place that today's downland species will hopefully be able to make use of in warmer decades to come.

The Dingies are doing just fine up here on the Grimsthorpe Estate near Bourne and this year was a good one for Pasqueflower.

Hope you've had fun on camera today and best of luck with the project!